Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
UK Research & Innovation
Polaris House, North Star Avenue
Swindon
SN2 1FL
Telephone
+44 1793867000
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKK14 - Swindon
Internet address(es)
Main address
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Body governed by public law
one.5) Main activity
Other activity
Research
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
UKRI-3797 AI Skills Hub
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 79410000 - Business and management consultancy services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
Contract Award by United Kingdom research and Innovation through its component body Innovate for AI Skills Hub to UK business beneficiaries as part of a larger programme of activities that seek to stimulate adoption and diffusion of AI & ML in the UK. The skills hub will stimulate adoption by addressing one of the major barriers in AI adoption, identified by both government and industry surveys, as the gap in data and AI skills in the industry. Achieving this objective will have a positive impact on underperforming sectors and on UK productivity, ensuring AI benefits all sectors of the UK economy.
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)
Value excluding VAT: £4,148,645
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
Main site or place of performance
UNITED KINGDOM
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Contract Award Notice for United Kingdom Research and Innovation through its component body, Innovate UK, for delivery an AI Skills Hub to UK business beneficiaries as part of a larger programme of activities that seek to stimulate adoption and diffusion of AI & ML in the UK. The skills hub will stimulate adoption by addressing one of the major barriers in AI adoption, identified by both government and industry surveys, as the gap in data and AI skills in the industry. Achieving this objective will have a positive impact on underperforming sectors and on UK productivity, ensuring AI benefits all sectors of the UK economy.
An independently run, self-sustainable skills hub can act in coordinating the activities required to address the current skills gap faced by industry. The main activities to be delivered by the hub include a systematic archiving of AI and data skills training providers and training material. The AI Skills Hub will embed the values of the skills value chain and will align with and interface with parallel and tangential activities (e.g. Workforce Foresighting - Innovate UK Business Connect (ktn-uk.org)) outlined by the relevant authority in the setup phase of the project. The data skills training archive and gap analysis will be aligned to the AI skills for business framework and the Skills Hub will act as a central point for industry to identify skills training opportunities, feedback on exact training needs and promote a more diverse workforce.
There are a number of key stakeholders in the UK, including government departments, Innovation Centres and Catapults that serve to shape the direction and adoption of AI in alignment with the National AI strategy. Representatives of such bodies sit on the BridgeAI Advisory Group providing governance over ongoing activities. The AI skills for business framework will be reviewed by the supplier throughout the lifetime of the Skills Hub and updated subject to review by the BridgeAI Advisory Group during the lifetime of the BridgeAI programme and by the national custodians of the document, The Alan Turing Institute, on programme cessation. This will place the UK at the forefront of international best practice for AI and data skills provision and delivery.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Quality / Weighting: 85
Price - Weighting: 15
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No
two.2.14) Additional information
There is an optional extension of up to one year included £822,522.00 to be decided near the end of the contract
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Open procedure
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes
four.2) Administrative information
four.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number: 2024/S 000-021898
Section five. Award of contract
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
16 December 2024
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 11
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
1 Embankment Place,
london
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UK - United Kingdom
National registration number
OC303525
The contractor is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot: £4,166,666.67
Total value of the contract/lot: £4,148,645
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
The contracting authority considers that this contract may be suitable for economic operators that are small or medium enterprises (SMEs). However, any selection of tenderers will be based solely on the criteria set out for the procurement.
To view this notice, please click here:
https://ukri.delta-esourcing.com/delta/viewNotice.html?noticeId=917483579
GO Reference: GO-2025115-PRO-29134847
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
United Kingdom Research & Innovation
Swindon
SN2 1FL
Country
United Kingdom